My Mixtape: Kjartan Sveinsson's 12 tracks he's been listening to lately

Explains Kjartan Sveinsson, before adding, honestly, ‘there is of course some obvious lobbying going on here as well’.

Honest words there from the composer, musician, performer and one third of Sigur Rós, who isn’t shy to declare personal interest in the mixtape he’s put together especially for us. So grab your headphones and dive straight in, and then as you listen scroll down for further context from Sveinsson on the dozen tracks featured, explaining why he’s been listening to them so much.

‘Myrrhman’ – Talk Talk

I foolishly never checked out Talk Talk until I heard about the passing of front man Mark Hollis. I can only say I regret I never listened to this amazing stuff in my younger days. I just can’t believe I missed out on this stuff. The last two albums are pure genius.

‘On an overgrown path No:4’ – Janacek

I have a very strong connection to Janacek’s music which I discovered in my teens. There is this beautiful melancholy embodying his ‘minimalistic’ piano music. I recommend the string quartets as well.

‘Volumes’ – Skúli Sverrisson

I never tire of listening to the two ‘Seria’ albums by my friend and collaborator Skúli Sverrisson. They fit all occasions and I think these are the most played albums in my house for the last two decades.

‘Air To Breath’ – Gyða Valtýsdóttir / Daníel Bjarnason

I had the pleasure of working with Gyða on her most recent album epicycle II. I think this work by Daníel is really beautiful and Gyða’s performance is just amazing.

‘Kom Vinur’ – María Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir

This is a brand new release from Sono Luminus. A composition written by my partner María. The music serves the poem by Vilborg Dagbjartsdóttir excellently. I hope people will enjoy it as much as I do without understanding the lyrics. We recorded this at Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík with Schola Cantorum, conducted by Hörður Áskellsson.

‘Ganiau’ – Merope

I met Bert and Indre from Merope a year ago when we did a small tour around Northern Europe along with Gyða Valtýsdóttir and Shahzad Ismaily. We had a great time and they are wonderful people. Their albums are often played in my house. We played this song on the tour. I always enjoyed it immensely.

‘Everytime’ – Britney Spears

I’ve just been thinking of Britney lately. I really like this song. In retrospect I think it might have influenced me in a song I wrote with Sigur Rós called ‘All Alright’.

‘Wallflower’ – Peter Gabriel

I’ve been relistening to Peter Gabriel. I used to listen a lot to his music in the 1980s (when I was a child). Very innovative at the time and his compositions are really really good, and what a voice as well!

‘Cargo Frakt’ – Apparat Organ Quartet

This is what I listen to when I need to get things done, whether it’s vacuuming the floor, write a letter to the accountant or any other little challenge that needs a bit of a push. The full album is really great as well, all made with analogue synthesisers or organs, accompanied by drums.

‘Lamentations of Jeremiah’ – Thomas Tallis/The Tallis Scholars

This is the ‘incipit’ (opening), but the work as a whole is pure beauty. One should listen to the whole thing. I was lucky enough to sing this piece when I was at university. It is so masterfully composed.

‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’ – Hank Williams

I don’t know, I have just been listening to this song a lot.

‘Star, Child’ – Kristín Anna

This song is from the album I Must Be the Devil which I produced along with Kristín Anna some years ago. This one is my favourite at the moment though they are obviously all great!

Kjartan Sveinsson’s Der Klang der Offenbarung des Göttlichen received its UK premiere at the Southbank Centre in March 2021 as part of a special broadcast concert by the London Contemporary Orchestra.